Construction for spherical structure and component therefor

ABSTRACT

A construction for a generally spherical structure of the type commonly referred to as a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;radome.&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; The construction includes a plurality of triangular frame assemblies, each of which is made up of elongated frame members attached to connecting devices located at the apexes of each frame assembly. The frame assemblies are covered by triangular membrane panels. One framemembrane assembly is joined to another by means extending laterally through adjacent frame members and the connecting devices to which the adjacent frame members are attached. The invention also encompasses the individual connecting devices.

ijite tates Ptent 1 Ahern 1 Jan. 15, 1974 1 CONSTRUCTION FOR SPHERICAL STRUCTURE AND COMPONENT THEREFOR [75] Inventor: William W. Ahern, Belmont, Mass.

[73] Assignee: Geometries, Inc., Cambridge, Mass.

[22] Filed: Mar. 16, 1972 2 11 Appl. No.: 235,159

[52] US. Cl. 52/81, 52/83, 287/2092 C, 287/2092 D [51] Int. Cl Illib l/Qg [58] Field of Search 52/81, 86, 82, 24; 46/29; 287/2092 C, 20.92 D; 108/156, 154; 248/222 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,255,556 6/1966 DAmato 52 31 1,969,014 8/1934 Karp 287/2092 D 3,131,453 5/1964 Stockton .t 287/2092 D 3,186,522 6/1955 McCauley t 52/81 3,530,620 9/1970 Heleren 52/81 3,530,621 9/1970 Ratzebcck 52/81 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 118,887 5/1947 Sweden 287/2092 D 6,508,364 12/1965 Netherlands 52/81 Primary Examiner-Frank L. Abbott Assistant Examiner-11. E. Raduazo Att0rney-C. Yardley Chittick et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A construction for a generally spherical structure of the type commonly referred to as a radome. The construction includes a plurality of triangular frame assemblies, each of which is made up of elongated frame members attached to connecting devices located at the apexes of each frame assembly. The frame assemblies are covered by triangular membrane panels. One frame-membrane assembly is joined to another by means extending laterally through adjacent frame members and the connecting devices to which the adjacent frame members are attached. The invention also encompasses the individual connecting devices.

1 Claim, 9 Drawing Figures Pmimmmw 5 1914 31830 1 SHEET 2 OF 2 CONSTRUCTION FOR SPHERICAL STRUCTURE AND COMPONENT THEREFOR DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a novel construction for spherical structures, as well as to one of the components of said construction. The invention is especially useful in structures commonly referred to as radomes," although it will be appreciated from the following detailed description that use of the invention in other similar structures is also contemplated.

At present, the triangular frame assemblies of radomes and other like spherical structures are conventionally preassembled, usually by welding, before being shipped to the construction site. As a result, crating and shipping costs often exceed the costs of the frames themselves. Pre-assembly by welding also increases fabricating and galvanizing costs.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to avoid the above-mentioned problems by providing a unique construction which enables the components making up the triangular frame assemblies to be shipped to the construction site in a disassembled knocked-down condition, and which thereafter enables the frame assemblies to be rapidly and efficiently assembled. Still another object of the invention is to do away with the necessity of a welding operation when interconnecting the frame assembly components. A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved means for interconnecting the triangular frame assemblies forming the construction of a spherical structure. An important feature of the invention, as broadly stated above, resides in the novel connecting devices employed at the vertexes of the frame assemblies.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein;

FIG. 1 is an exterior view, with portions broken away, of a construction embodying the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exterior view, on a greatly enlarged scale, again with portions broken away, showing details of the construction shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged sectional views taken along lines 3-3 and 44 respectively of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of one of the connecting devices located adjacent to one end of an elongated frame member;

FIG. 6 is another enlarged sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view ofa connecting device showing a slightly modified form of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8'8 of FIG. 5; and,

FIG. 8A is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing a connecting device having side walls arranged at different angles relative to the top and bottom walls.

Turning now to the drawings, and with initial reference to FIGS. 1-4, a construction for a spherical structure is shown comprised of a plurality of triangular frame assemblies, each of which includes elongated frame members 14a, 14b and 140 interconnected at the apexes of the frame assembly by connecting devices generally indicated at 18. The frame members 14a, 14b and 140 will hereinafter at times be collectively referred to as frame members 14. As can best be seen by an additional reference to FIG. 5, each connecting device 18 includes a pair of side walls 20a and 20b joined by vertically spaced top and bottom walls 220 and 22b. When viewed in plan, the top and bottom walls 22a and 22b each define generally truncated triangular shapes. As can best be seen in FIG. 6, the top wall 22a preferably although not necessarily extends to the rear beyond the base of the bottom wall 22b. Moreover, the top and bottom walls preferably although not necessarily converge inwardly towards the central axis a of the device, thus providing a somewhat tapered cross-sectional configuration when viewed from the side. The side walls 20a and 20b are further provided with integral ears 24a and 2411, the latter extending to the rear beyond the bases of the upper and lower walls 22a and 22b. Each of the side walls 20a and 20b is provided with an enlarged hole 26. The rearwardly extending ears are also provided with holes as at 28.

As viewed from either end of the device 18, the side walls 20a and 20b are preferably inclined, i.e., disposed angularly in relation to the top and bottom walls 22a and 22b. As indicated in FIG. 8, this results in acute and obtuse angles a and B being formed between the side walls and the top and bottom walls respectively. Under certain circumstances, it may be desirable to modify this relationship, and one such modification is illustrated in FIG. 8A. Here, the side wall 20a forms an obtuse angle B with the top wall 22a and an acute angle a with the bottom wall 22b. Side wall 20b forms an acute angle a with the top wall 22a and an obtuse angle [3 with the bottom wall 22b. The foregoing examples are merely illustrative of some of the angular relationships between the side walls and the top and bottom walls of the connecting devices which may be required in a particular spherical structure. In the final analysis, these angular relationships will be governed by the locations of the connecting devices in a particular structure.

The components making up each triangular frame assembly, namely the elongated frame members 14 and the connecting devices 18, are shipped in a disassembled or knocked-down condition and are assembled at the construction site. This is accomplished in the following manner: the elongated frame members 14 are first arranged in a triangular pattern with the connecting devices 18 located at the apexes. Each frame member is provided at opposite ends with a pair of longitudinally spaced holes 30 and 32, the latter being tapped and preferably although not necessarily of a smaller diameter than the former. The holes 30 and 32 are spaced for alignment with the holes 26' and 28 in the side walls 20a and 20b of the connecting devices 18. Bolts 34 are inserted through the holes 28 and threaded into the holes 32 to interconnect the frame members 14 and the connecting devices 18, thereby forming the individual triangular frame assemblies. As is best shown in FIG. 4, the frame members 14 are thus held in faceto-face contact with the side walls 20a and 20b of the connecting devices 18. The angular dispositions of the side walls 20a and 20b are thus assumed by the frame members 14. Other methods of attaching the connecting devices to the frame members are also possible.

The triangular frame assemblies are next covered by triangular membrane panels 36 which are usually of a relatively thin-gauged plastic material. The membrane panels are preferably provided with flanges 38 which overlap the exterior sides of the frame members 14. The flanges 38 are further provided with a series of spaced holes which are suitably arranged to be aligned with additional holes spaced along the length of the frame members 14. At this point in time, and particularly when windy conditions prevail at the construction site, it may be desirable to temporarily secure the membrane panels 36 to the triangular frame assemblies by passing one or more wires through the aligned holes in the flanges 38 and frame members 14.

Having now interconnected and covered the frame assemblies, the next construction step entails the interconnection of one frame-membrane assembly to another. This is accomplished in the following manner: two membrane-frame assemblies are arranged next to each other with for example the frame member 14a of one next to the frame member 1411 of another, and with the overlapping flanges 38 of the membrane panels in face-to-face relationship. Tie-bolts 40 and nuts 42 are next employed to connect the two triangular membrane-frame assemblies together. Each tie-bolt extends laterally through the aligned holes 26 in the side walls a and 20b of the connecting devices 18, as well as through the holes in the frame members 14, it being understood that suitable holes are also provided in the flanges 38 on the membrane panels 36. Once this has been accomplished, additional smaller diameter tiebolts 44 and nuts 46 (see FIG. 3) are used to pull the adjacent frame members together, thus squeezing the peripheral panel flanges 38 therebetween. As the tiebolts 44 and nuts 46 are applied, the temporarily holding wires which were previously applied can be removed.

The above precedure is repeated along each edge of each membrane-frame assembly until the entire spherical structure has been assembled. The joints between the membrane-panels may if desired by sealed to insure water-tight integrity.

It may be desirable to strengthen the connecting devices 18, as for example by including one or more integral reinforcing ribs 48 on the interior surfaces of the top and bottom walls 22a and 22b. Moreover, as is shown in FIG. 7, the side walls 200 and 20b may be additionally provided with bosses 50 which protrude laterally into receiving holes 52in the frame members 14, thereby providing both increased resistance to shear and when combined with the bolts 34, an additional locating function.

ln light of the foregoing, the improvements and advantages made possible by the present invention will now be more readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. Of particular advantage is the savings realized by shipping the structural components (elongated frame members 14, connecting devices 18, membrane panels 36 and miscellaneous bolts and nuts) in a disassembled knocked-down state. Once delivered to the construction site, the components can be easily and quickly assembled without requiring the services of highly skilled workers, for example, welders. These savings in shipping and labor costs are particularly significant where construction sites are located in remote sparcely populated areas.

Other advantages of the present invention include increased strength and rigidity. Each triangular membrane-frame assembly is interconnected to the next at each apex through the use of tie bolts 40 which extend laterally through both the frame members 14 and the connecting devices 18 to which they are attached. In addition, the frame members are additionally tied together by tie bolts 44, the result being a rigidly interconnected high-strength construction.

It is my intention to cover all changes and modifications of the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of disclosure which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

I. For use in a spherical structure having a construction made up of a plurality of interconnected triangular frame assemblies which are covered by triangular panels, with each of said frame assemblies including a plurality of elongated frame members, a connecting device for interconnecting both said frame members and said frame assemblies, said device comprising: a pair of converging non-parallel side walls; top and bottom truncated triangular walls joining said side walls, said side walls having ears extending rearwardly therefrom beyond the edges of said top and bottom walls, first aperture means in said ears for accommodating means extending therethrough to attach said ears to the elongated frame members, second aperture means in said side walls at locations between said top and bottom walls, said second aperture means being adapted to accommodate means extending therethrough to interconnect one frame assembly to another, and laterally protruding bosses on said side walls at locations spaced forwardly of the first aperture means in said ears, said bosses being adapted to enter holes in the frame members attached to said connecting devices. 

1. For use in a spherical structure having a construction made up of a plurality of interconnected triangular frame assemblies which are covered by triangular panels, with each of said frame assemblies including a plurality of elongated frame members, a connecting device for interconnecting both said frame members and said frame assemblies, said device comprising: a pair of converging non-parallel side walls; top and bottom truncated triangular walls joining said side walls, said side walls having ears extending rearwardly therefrom beyond the edges of said top and bottom walls, first aperture means in said ears for accommodating means extending therethrough to attach said ears to the elongated frame members, second aperture means in said side walls at locations between said top and bottom walls, said second aperture means being adapted to accommodate means extending therethrough to interconnect one frame assembly to another, and laterally protruding bosses on said side walls at locations spaced forwardly of the first aperture means in said ears, said bosses being adapted to enter holes in the frame members attached to said connecting devices. 